Greek authorities have ordered residents to evacuate their homes as a fast-moving wildfire continues to spread dangerously close to Athens.
The blaze, which ignited on Sunday near the town of Varnavas, north of the Greek capital, has intensified despite extensive efforts to contain it.
Currently, more than 500 firefighters are on the ground, supported by 152 vehicles, 29 water-bombing aircraft, and a significant number of volunteers.
Together, they are battling the fire, which has rapidly grown in size and now threatens the area around Penteli, located approximately 16 kilometers, about 10 miles, northeast of Athens.
The Greek public broadcaster, ERT, estimates that the fire has already engulfed more than 30 kilometers, about 19 miles, though official figures on the fire’s size have yet to be released.
Wildfires are a common occurrence during the Greek summer, but experts note that the situation is worsening due to the effects of climate change.
Unusually hot and dry weather, intensified by global warming, is making these fires more frequent and severe.
This summer, Greece has already faced numerous wildfires after enduring its hottest June and July on record.
The country’s Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, issued a stark warning over the weekend, stating that “extremely high and dangerous weather conditions” are expected to persist through Thursday.
These conditions have prompted widespread concern that Greece could experience a repeat of last summer’s devastating fires, which ravaged several regions, including the heavily-forested national park known as the “lungs of Athens.”
Adding to the urgency of the situation, Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis reported that two dozen children had been evacuated from a children’s hospital in Penteli, with additional health centers on high alert.
Fire officials also confirmed that two hospitals had been evacuated as a precaution.
Fire service spokesman Vasilios Vathrakoyiannis described the ongoing challenges, noting that “winds overnight remained strong creating dangerous conditions.”
He warned that the intensity of these winds is expected to increase, making the fire even more difficult to control.
He urged residents in affected areas to “follow the instructions of the authorities” for their safety.
In addition to the immediate dangers posed by the wildfire, concerns are growing over the potential link between extreme heat and a recent spike in missing persons cases in Greece.
CNN reported that in June, several tourists who went for walks during the heatwave were later found dead in different locations across the country.
Authorities have cautioned the public not to underestimate the life-threatening impact of these soaring temperatures.
As the fire continues to spread, officials have confirmed that homes have been damaged, although the full extent of the destruction remains unclear.
The ongoing battle against the wildfire is a stark reminder of the increasing challenges posed by climate change in regions already prone to extreme weather conditions.
